These days, the visit of Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov to the RN Macedonia has been prevalent. In relation to the assessment of this visit, we spoke with Ambassador Viktor Gaber in Morning Briefing.
-Like for all new people, there will be comments of distrust. This process will last. Because we have an obsession with the past in the current politics that influences the public. I am putting this visit in the context of improving the hope that in a foreseeable future there could be overcoming of the past that is consuming us, says Gaber.
He adds that the three elections in one year caused heating up of this issue with Macedonia that at the end resulted in a veto.
Still, according to the latest statements of political leaders of Bulgaria, at least lately history is not being mentioned in the official documents.
-In Bulgaria they are entering a more stable political phase, they are coming out of the phase of conflicts and the political factor that has a term of four years can act more freely, roughly said, they are more confident in their seats. It’s one thing to be a politician, and another to be a statesman. One becomes a politician, but a statesman anneals for a long time, comments Gaber.
Both in Sofia and in Skopje there are new young prime ministers who should be unburdened by the past and past attempts to resolve the mutual dispute.
-They are not unburdened and cannot be unburdened from the previous gross actions of some politicians. They can contribute to changing the atmosphere. History will remain, but it’s important that it remains in the background. There is increasingly more sentiment among the people in Bulgaria for softening the tough stance, says Gaber.
Petkov seems like he wants to achieve change. Gaber comments that Kiril Petkov, who should be less burdened by the past, is currently a star not only at home but also in Europe, and can have an influence on the older generation, the one of President Rumen Radev, which has tougher stances.
Commenting on the verbal note with which our country should say that it has no territorial claims to Bulgaria, and for which some think that we have lost our last trump card against Bulgaria, Gaber says that the moment when the step will be made is very important. A strategic goal is achieved either step by step or all at once. This dispute is an imposed dispute, and we are a new player on the field, says Gaber.
Watch the entire conversation in the video
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
